Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Traveler's Alert: Protests in Santiago Turn Violent

Chilean students in Santiago turned violent earlier today (October18), causing major gridlock throughout the capital. Clashing with police on the first day of a two-day national strike to demand that the government reform the education system, masked protesters launched homemade firebombs before taking refuge inside university and other school buildings. They also started on a public bus outside a university campus after its passengers fled.

COMMENT: Students have been protesting for more than five months to demand free public education for all; reduced state subsidies for private colleges; and improvement in the quality of education overall. Unfortunately, unlike public officials, protesters simply need to make demands, whereas government leaders must respond to such demands while taking into account the massive costs of such propositions at a time when all global economies are adversely affected by globalization.

For in-bound travelers to Chile, please consider massive protests and congested traffic when planning meetings in the capital. It may be far more useful to meet in the suburbs rather than downtown.

About Me

I retired from the US State Department in April 2006, after a career as a special agent, Senior Regional Security Officer (SRSO), director of training, chief investigator of the Cyprus Missing Persons Program, director of security of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and as a senior adviser in the Office of Anti-Terrorism Assistance.
My book, STAYING SAFE ABROAD: TRAVELING, WORKING AND LIVING IN A POST-9/11 WORLD was published in May 2008.
A complete update of STAYING SAFE ABROAD 2015, will be release during early 2015 for the iPad, Kindle and Nook and other e-readers.
I am a former Federal Firearms Dealer (US), a certified NRA pistol instructor and a certified NRA Range Safety Officer.
My career has also included 15 years as an international security consultant; for ten years I served as the security adviser to the Inter-American Development Bank.
I additionally, served six years in the Marines, which included combat service in Vietnam.
I am available for operational assignments, lecturing opportunities and in providing security solutions anywhere in the world.